Skip to main content
. 2022 Nov 2;65(12):555–562. doi: 10.3345/cep.2021.01564

Table 2.

Recommended universal varicella vaccination programs of different countries

Country Vaccine Strain Dose 1st and 2nd dose introduction (yr) Schedule (1st, 2nd dose) Coverage (%)
Western Pacific 7 out of 27 member countries adopted (26%)
Australia Varicella, MMRV Oka 1 2005 18 mo 90% [30]
Hong Kong Varicella, MMRV Oka, MAV 2 2014 12 mo, 6 yr 73% [51]
Japan Varicella Oka 2 2014 12–15 mo, 18–23 mo 40% [32]
New Zealand Varicella Oka 1 2017 15 mo -
Niue Varicella - 1 2017 15 mo -
South Korea Varicella Oka, MAV 1 2005 12–15 mo 96.3% [17]
Taiwan Varicella Oka 1 2004 12–18 mo 98.6% [31]
Europe 14 out of 53 member countries adopted (26%)
Andorra Varicella Oka 2 No data 15 mo, 3 yr -
Austria Varicella Oka 2 2010 12–23 mo (4–wk interval) -
Cyprus Varicella Oka 2 2010 13–18 mo, 4–6 yr -
Finland Varicella, MMRV Oka 2 2017 18 mo, 6 yr -
Germany Varicella, MMRV Oka 2 2004, 2009 11–14 mo, 15–23 mo 1 dose 89.6% [52], 2 dose 75.3% [52]
Greece Varicella Oka 2 2006, 2009 12–15 mo, 2–3 yr 1 dose 90% [53], 2 dose 75% [53]
Hungary Varicella Oka 2 2019 13 mo, 16 mo -
Iceland Varicella Oka 2 2020 12 mo, 18 mo -
Israel Varicella, MMRV Oka 2 2008 12 mo, 6–7 yr -
12 m, 6 yr -
Italy Varicella, MMRV Oka 2 2017 13–15 mo, 6 yr 84%–95% [54]
Latvia Varicella Oka 2 2008, 2019 12–15 mo, 7 yr -
Luxembourg MMRV Oka 2 2009 12 mo, 15–23 mo 1 dose 94.5% [35], 2 dose 83.3% [35]
Spain Varicella Oka 2 2016 (National) 15 mo; 2–4 yr 4 regions
(Navarra) 15 mo; 3 yr 1 dose 95% [3], 2 dose 86.1% [3]
Turkey Varicella Oka 1 2013 12 mo 60.1% [43]
Americas 17 out of 35 member countries adopted (49%)
Antigua Varicella Oka, MAV 1 2014 24 mo -
Argentina Varicella Oka, MAV 1 2015 15 mo 74% [55]
Bahamas Varicella Oka, MAV 2 2012 12 mo, 4–5 yr -
Barbados Varicella Oka, MAV 1 2012 12 mo -
Bermuda Varicella Oka, MAV 1 2012 24 mo -
Brazil MMRV, Varicella Oka, MAV 2 2013, 2018 15 mo, 4 yr ≥80% [56]
Canada Varicella, MMRV Oka 2 2000–2007 (1 dose), 2011 (2 doses) 12-15 mo, 18 mo 93% [57]
Cayman Islands Varicella Oka, MAV 2 2000, 2009 12 mo, 3–6 yr -
Colombia Varicella Oka, MAV 2 2015, 2019 12 mo, 5 yr -
Costa Rica Varicella Oka, MAV 1 2007 15 mo 95% [58]
Ecuador Varicella Oka, MAV 1 2010 15 mo -
Panama Varicella Oka, MAV 2 2014, 2018 15 mo, 4 yr -
Paraguay Varicella Oka, MAV 1 2013 15 mo -
Peru Varicella Oka, MAV 1 2018 12 mo -
Puerto Rico Varicella Oka, MAV 2 1996, 2007 12 mo, 4–6 yr -
United States of America Varicella, MMRV Oka 2 1995, 2006 12–15 mo, 4–6 yr 90% [59]
Uruguay Varicella Oka, MAV 2 1999, 2014 12 mo, 5 yr 96% [60]
Eastern Mediterranean 6 out of 21 member countries adopted (29%)
Bahrain Varicella 2 2015 12 mo, 3 yr -
Kuwait Varicella, MMRV 2 2017 12 mo, 24 mo -
12–24 mo, 12 yr -
Oman Varicella 1 2010 12 mo -
Qatar Varicella Oka 2 2007 12 mo, 4–6 yr 92% [42]
Saudi Arabia Varicella 2 2008 18 mo, 4–6 yr -
United Arab Emirates Varicella 2 2012 12 mo, 5–6 yr 94% [43]

No African or Southeast Asian countries (47 and 11 members, respectively) have adopted universal varicella vaccination programs.